Claudio Marchisio: Juventus want to finish 2011 top of Serie A

The Italy international is determined to end the year on a high, and team-mate Giorgio Chiellini has added that the Bianconeri can not slip up now after a good start to the term

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has made it clear that the Bianconeri will do their utmost to end 2011 on a positive note and enter the new year top of the table in Italy.

The Turin giants currently sit joint first in the Serie A standings with 30 points from 14 games, and Marchisio is hopeful of successfully defending top spot in the final two league games of the year, against Novara on December 18 and Udinese three days later.

"We are a great team and we will try to end the year in first position in the upcoming two games," Marchisio was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

"Novara have shown that their worthy of playing in Serie A. They might not have collected too many points, but they have done pretty well. They beat Inter and troubled Napoli as well. We have to be very alert. They need the points, but so do we."

Team-mate Giorgio Chiellini was equally keen to end 2011 at the summit, and assured that they have that goal firmly in their sights.

"Juventus' objective? We want to sit top of the table come Christmas. We are really close, so it would be a shame to ruin our great start in the next two games. We still have plenty to learn, but we are on the right track," the defender said to Sky Sport Italia.

Juventus are currently preparing for Sunday's home game against Novara.

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